THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA 
AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 


VC285 
P92L1 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  SYNOD  of  the  Carol inas.    in  November   ,    1788,  the 
following  persons,  viz.   the  Reverend  messieurs       David  Caldwell. 
Samuel  Maccorkle,   James  Hill,jun.,   James  McRae  and  Samuel  Houston 
together  with  the  following  elders.  Messieurs  Hezekiah  Alexander.  John 
Dickey,   Zacheus  Wilson  and  Robert  King,  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
draft  and  publish  a  PASTORAL  LETTER,   to  be  directed  to  the  churches 
under  the  care  of  said  Synod. 

The  committee  met  for  the  above  purpose,   except  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Houston     Hezekiah  Alexander  and  Robert  King,   and  drafted  said  letter; 
but  as  some  unavoidable  circumstances  prevented  its  publication  till 
the  present  meeting  of  the  Synod,   November  1789.    it  was  submitted  by 
the  committee  to  a  Synodical  review,  was  read,   amended  and  approved 
and  is  as  follows. 

PASTORAL  LETTER 


The  Synod  of  the  Carol inas  to  all   the  churches  of  the  Redeemer  in 
general,   and  to  all  the  people  of  the  presbyterian  persuasion  falling 
under  their  jurisdiction  and  care  in  particular  with  grace  mercy  and 
peace  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord, 

Very  Dear  Brethren, 

It  has  been  the  good  pleasure  of  God  the  great  parent  of  the 
universe  and  the  King  of  Sion,   to  visit  us  in  these  utmost  ends  of  the 
earth  both  with  the  smiles  of  his  providence  and  the  riches  of  his 
grace.     He  hath  lately  made  bare  his  arm  in  our  defense,   driven  back 
our  foes,   delivered  us  from  calamities  of  a  civil  war,   given  us  peace 
and  independence.    In  his  tender  mercies  he  hath  also  been  peculiarly 
attentive  to  our  best   interests,   the  concerns  of  our  souls.     He  hath 
spread  his  gospel  among  us,   hath  permitted  us  to  organize  churches, 
erect  presbyteries  and  synods  in  this  howling  wilderness,  where  lately 
roamed  the  savage  and  the  beasts  and  said  "America  be  thou  exalted 
among  nat i ons . " 

The  lord  our  God  with  a  mighty  hand  and  outstretched  arm  hath 
brought  us  as  it  were  out  of  the   land  of  Egypt  and  out  of  the  house  of 
bondage  and  hath  in  his  free  and  unmerited  mercy  emancipated      us  as  a 
church  from  the  ant i-christian  and  unscriptural   control  of  earthly 
kings . 

The  shock  of  war  and  revolutions  in  America  have  been  happily  so 
far  from  unsettling  the  principles  of  our  church,   they  have  brought 
them  into  a  much  more  unfettered  and  confirmed  state  and  have  most 
agreeably  issued  in  such  republican  forms  of  government  as  are 
altogether  congenial  with  the  government  of  the  church  by  presbyteries 
where  no  crowned  sovereign,   no  mitered  pontiff,   no  haughty  and 
usurping  power,   can  arrogate  dominion  over  the  church  of 
Christ . 

Such  a  glorious  revolution  in  our  civil  affairs  could  not  fail  to 
mingle  its  free  rational  and  salutory  effects  with  the  affairs  of  the 
church.   Ecclesiastic  revolutions     have  taken  place   in  every  age  of  the 
world  when  alterations  have  been  made  in  civil  government.   The  former 
from,  the   latter  must  and  will  receive  their  connections. 
Every  denomination  of  christians  in  America  have  experienced  the 


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influence  of  the  late  civil  change,    in  a  degree  greater  or  less  in 
proportion  to  their  dependence  upon  and  attachment  to     those  churches 
in  Europe  from  which  they  derive  their  origin  and  their  names  and  with 
which  they  were  connected  before  the  American  revolution.     In  the 
independent  churches  of  England,   the  ecclesiastic  revolution  has  been 
scarcely  perceived  as  they  were  separated  from  others  in  a  religious 
view  and  understanding  and  under  the  power  of  no  foreign  prejudice  or 
restrictions.     In  the  episcopal  church  the  change  has  been  more 
sensible,   even  those  states  in  the  union  where  there  principle 
management  of  public  affairs  was  in  the  hands  of  those  who  were 
members  of  the  episcopal   church,   the  citizens  possessed  so  much 
national  virtue  and  felt  the  flame  of   liberty  so  warmly  that  it 
reached  to  their  ecclesiastical  policy  and  they  honorably  disdained  to 
settle  their  religion  on  a  civil  establishment  or  to  support  their 
clergy  by  the  laws  of  the  land,   but  generously  allowed  of  an  universal 
liberty  of  conscience  to  christians  of  every  denomination,   and  not 
only  into  the  episcopal,   but  also  into  the  seceding  and  covenanting 
churches  the  irresistible  influence  of  a  change   in  civil  government 
has  spread  its  effects  and  sown  the  seeds  of  alteration.   Even  to  them 
it  has  given  an  American  complection  so  far  at   least  that  there  is 
ground  of  hope  that  those  thin  and  useless  partitioned  walls  which  now 
exist  between  the  churches  of  our  common  redeemer  will   soon  be  broken 
down  and  all  the  sheep  of  the  great  and  good  shepherd  collected  into 
the  same  fold,   and  when  the  conduct  of  mankind  will  universally  attest 
what  every  christian  by  his  language  and  example  ought  to  express  that 
Christ  is  not  divided. 

Agreeably  to  these  principles  we  find  that  a  change  in  some 
respects  has  taken  place  in  our  church.   A  change  equally  necessary  and 
unavoidable,   a  change  which  might  have  been  forseen  and  was  expected 
and  to  which  every  good  man  must  have  looked  forward  with  a  pleasing 
anxiety  for  the  event.     A  total  separation  from  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  in  point  of  civil  policy  rendered  a  dependent  connection 
within  the  churches  in  that  distant  part  of  the  globe  both 
unreasonable  and  impractical,    in  fact,   the  time  has  come  when  God 
calls  us,   the  Americans,   to  know  not  any  head  in  a  religious  light  but 
Christ  himself. 

From  Calvin  and  Knox  down  to  the  Westminster  assembly  of  divines 
we  sincerely  revere  the  memory  of  those  great  and  good  men  who  boldly 
contended  for  the  faith  once  delivered     to  the  saints  and  who  were 
eminent  champions  for  the  cross  of  Christ  and  the  religion  of  Jesus. 
We  would  that  peace  may  be  within  the  wall  of  every  christian  church 
upon  earth  and  that  the  pleasure  of  the  lord  may  prosper  in  the  hand 
of  every  minister  of  the  new  testament  yet  as  we  think  it  an 
unalienable  right  that  belongs  to  all  christian  societies  to  take 
their  rules  for  doctrine,  worship  and  discipline  from  Christ  alone,  we 
wish  only  to  be  indulged  in  the  free  and  unmolested  exercise  of  the 
same  privilege,  which  privilege  we  believe  is  the  unmerited  gift  of 
God  to  us  in  common  with  others  and  with  graciously  descending  free 
and  unsullied  from  Jesus  Christ  we  are  bound  to  employ  for  his  glory 
the  propagation  of  his  interest  upon  earth  and  permit  us  to  tell  you 
for  your  everlasting  welfare  however  insufficient  for  these  things  and 
inadequate  to  the  task  we  are  bound  to  watch  for  your  souls  as  they 
who  must  give  an  account.     Standing  therefore  in  that   liberty  where 
with  Christ  hath  made  us  free  the  presbyterian  churches  in  these 
United  States  by  the  good  hand  of  God  upon  them  have  been  enlarged  to 
such  magnitude  and  extent  as  to  admit  of  a  need  of  plurality  of 


-2- 


synods.   Four  synods  have  accordingly  grown  out  one,   viz.   the  Synod  ot 
New  York  and  New  Jersey,   the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,   the  Synod  of 
Virginia     and  the  Synod  of  the  Carol inas.     The  Synod  of  the  Carol inas 
comprehends  the  presbyteries  of  South  Carolina,   Abingdon. and  Orange. 
These  Synods  with  their  several  subordinate  constituent  presbyteries 
are  all  co-arranged  under  one  great  assembly  precisely  on  the  model  of 
church  government  obtained  and  adopted     among  our  fathers  and 
predecessors  in  Scotland,     at  and  after  the  glorious  reformation  from 
popery.     0  that  our  hearts  were  at  all   times  disposed  to  praise  God 
for  his  goodness  and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  children  of  men. 

Paint  to  yourselves,    if  you  please,   a  synodical  meeting  ministers 
and  ruling  elders  throughout  our  churches.   Imagine  some  of  them  to  be 
your  aged  experienced  and  venerable  teachers  by  whose  piety  and 
precedent  care  you  have  been  instructed  in     the  first  principles  of 
the  oracles  of  God  before  you  visited  this  land.    Imagine  others  to  be 
your  sons  and  pupils,  your  former  acquaintances  and  perhaps  the 
companions  of  your  youth.   Imagine  others  who  have  come  from  and 
received  their  education  in  Europe  who  have   long  resided  in  this 
country  and  thereby  have  collected  all  the  wisdom  and  experience  which 
both  Europe  and  American  can  afford.   Imagine  that  all  these  have 
convened  with  the  glory  of  God  and  the  edification  of  the  church  for 
their  object,   uncalled  by  any  magistrate,   unawed     by  any  government, 
unsupported  by  civil  power,   unopposed  by  popery  or  bloody  persecution, 
uninfluenced  by  lucrative  mot ives , unbiased  by  a  mother  church, 
directed  by  the  wisdom     and  warned  by  the  errors  of  all  councils  and 
synods  before  them  amidst  the  confluence  of  all  these  happy 
circumstances  assisted  by  your  prayers  and  the  spirit  of  judgment  how 
flattering  the  prospect.   This  pleasing  prospect,   our  dear  brethren,  we 
trust  in  God  has  been  realized.   That   it  has  excited  in  you  grateful 
hearts  and  that  you  have  mingled  your  gratitude  and  praise  to  God  on 
this  account  for  all  the  wonders  of  his  grace  and  love.     We  speak  with 
more  plainness  on  this  subject,   because  few  of  the  members  of  our 
synod  were  present  but  we  hope  and  believe  such  an  assembly  has  met. 
An  assembly  that  wants  but  antiquity  and  the  world  of  knowledge  of 
their  learning  piety  and  ability  to  render  them  in  every  view 
respectable  and  we  think,  brethren,  you  will   concur  with  us  in 
believing  that  an  assembly  thus  circumstanced,   as  free  from  civil 
control  under  as  few  temptations  to  please  mankind  and  to  comply  with 
the  humors  of  the  times  have  no  sovereign  but  Christ,   nor  any  laws  to 
bind  them  but  his  word  never  met  before  the  era  of  American 
independence . 

Similar  preceding  assemblies  have  generally  been  convocated  at 
the  instance,  under  the  influence,   and  by  the  support  of  civil  power 
and  have  thereby  bound  to  attend  to  some  objects  of  much  less 
magnitude  than  the  cause  of  Christ  or  the  propogation  of  religion. 
This  was  the  case  both  before  and  since  the  reformation.   The  Council 
of  Pisa  was  called  by  Lewis  XII  to  answer  a  political  question,  while 
the  Council  of  Lateran  was  convened  to  oppose  it.     But  there  is  no 
necessity  to  go  back  to  these  dark  ages  for  examples,  we  know  that 
Edward  VI  call  the  bishop  of  Canterbury  and  bishops  to  form  the  39 
articles  and  a  common  prayer  book. When  it  was  found  that  some  things 
in  the  prayer  book  gave  offence     to  Bucer,   Calvin  and  some  others 
abroad,   he  required  them  to  revise  it  and  compleat   it.  Queen 
Elizabeth,   by  her  ecclesiastic  agents,   reviewed  it,   after  it  had  been 
abolished  by  Mary;   and  James  I  gave  it  another  revisal  at  the  famous 
conference  at  Hampton-Court. 


-3- 


It   IS  altogether  certain,   that  the  Westminster  assembly  of  divines 
were  called  and  supported  by  a  parliament;   and  the  excellence  of  their 
celebrated  performance  is  much  more  to  be  attributed  to  the  goodness 
of  God,   and  the  wisdom  and  piety  of  those  divines,   than  to  all  other 
concurring  circumstances.   Perhaps  no  assembly  ever  yet  convened,  to 
manage  the  affairs  of  the  church,   had  greater  cause  to  say,    'The  Lord 
hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad, '    than  the  general 
assembly  of  the  presbyterian  church  in  North-America. 

Here   let  us  say  with  the  psalmist,   Higgion  Selah  -  Pause  and  con- 
sider the  marvellous  loving  kindness  of  the  King,   both  of  saints  and 
nations.   For  America  has  he  reserved  the  solution  o  that  important 
question,    'To  what  degree  of  perfection  can  a  people  in  the  enjoyment 
of  every  possible  advantage,   carry  forward  the  good  order  and 
government  both  of  church  and  state. '  , 

There  are  not  wanting  some,   perhaps,   under  our  pastoral  care,  who  by 
their  uniform  opposition  to  every  appearance  of  change,   seem  to 
imagine  we  have  already  reached  that  perfection.   Such  persons  are 
principally  our  view  in  the  first  division  of  this  work,   and  more 
especially  if  they  be,   as  in  charity  we  hope  many  of  them  are,  sincere 
servants  of  our     common  Lord.     It  is  plain  from  the  word  of  God,  that 
the  church  of  Christ  will  never  arrive  at  full  perfection  in  her 
militant  state;   certainly,   then,    improvements  may  be  made  in  those 
things  that  respect  the  interest  of  Sion," 

"That  this  work  may  be  involved  in  as  little  perplexity  as  possible, 
we  sha 1 1 , 

1st.   Explain  those  matters  in  which  we  suppose  some  changes  to  be 
necessary  at  this  time. 

2d.   Recommend  to  you  the  observation  and  practice  of  a  variety  of 
things,   all  of  which  appear  to  have  considerable  weight,   and  may 
terminate  in  your  advantage. 

3d.   Address  you  on  a  few  subjects  that  are  of  unchangeable  and 
unceasing  importance,   at  all   times  and  in  all  places. 

With  respect  to  the  first  of  these  divisions,   a  little  reading  and 
reasoning  will   inform  you,   our  dear  brethren,   that  there  are  four 
things  which,  with  certain  limitations  and  restrictions,   all  churches 
in  all  ages  and  places,   have  claimed  or  possessed,   the  right  of 
performing  wherever  circumstances  seem  to  require  it;   and  they  have 
also  possessed  the  right  to  judge  those  circumstances. 

1st.  To  arrange  and  declare  their  sense  of  the  system  of  doctrine 
taught  in  the  scriptures. 

2d.   To  form  a  directory  for  public  worship. 

3d.   To  give  their  sense  of  that  form  of  government  established  by 
Christ  in  his  church. 

4th.   To  draw  up  a  series  of  prudential  rules  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  into  execution  the  above  government. 

This  right,   or  these  rights,   were  claimed,   and  justly  claimed  by 


-4- 


several  councils  before  the  reformation,  and  were  dreaded  and  disputed 
by  none  but  the  Pope  and  his  bigoted  partizans. 

They  were  boldly  and  openly  asserted  by  Luther , Zueng 1 e ,  Melancthon 
and  others , duri ng  the  time  of  the  reformation  -  by  the  English  clergy 
in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI  -  by  the  church  of  Scotland  in  the  end  of 
the  16th  century,   at  the  formation  of  the  national   covenant  -by  both 
the  Scotch  and  English  churches,    in  the  unhappy  days  of  Charles  I,  and 
are  now  claimed  and  justly  claimed,    in  these  United  States,   by  the 
episcopal  and  presbyterian  churches,   the  associate  reformed  synod,  and 
associate  presbytery. 

These  several   churches,   though  they  have  not  all  made  new 
arrangements  of  the  subjects  mentioned;  yet  some  of  them  have  done  it; 
and  all  have  agreed  in  declaring,   that  they  do  understand  the 
scriptures  either  according  to  arrangements  already  made,   or  according 
to  such  changes  or  alterations  as  they  judged  necessary  to  be  made. 

Dear  brethren,   permit  us  to  deal  plainly  and  honesty  with  you.  We 
know  that  we  must  give  an  account  of  our  stewardship.   God  forbid  that 
we  should  flatter,   prejudice  or  court  popularity;   therefore  give  us 
leave  with  one  judgment  and  one  heart,    in  this  united  synodical 
capacity,   to  inform  you,   that  these  rights  cannot,   ought  not  to  be 
disputed . 

If  a  synod  of  ours,   or  of  the  seceding  or  covenanting  churches,  or 
any  other  churches,   have  acted  without  these  rights,    in  Philadelphia, 
or  in  any  other  part  of  America,   another  synod  or  assembly  at 
Westminster,   Edinburgh,   Strassburgh,   Spires  must  certainly  have  done 
the  same.    If  we  have  been  wrong  in  principle,   our  reforming  fathers 
were  also  wrong.   If  they  claimed  no  privilege  but  that  which  they 
received  from  the  head  of  the  church,   no  reasonable  person  will  say 
that  privilege  is  denied  to  us;   or  that  a    right  was  delegated  to  them 
by  Jesus  Christ,  which  in  this  age  of  the  world  has  ceased  to  exist. 
But  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  exercising  this  right,    in  its  full 
vigor,  will  appear,  were  we  only  to  consider  the  nature  of  things. 

The  truths  and  doctrines  in  the  bible,    like  the  stars  in  the 
firmament,   shine  without  visible  order.  To  arrange  one  or  other,   so  as 
to  be  understood,  we    must  give  names  and  reduce  to  classes.  The  human 
mind,   best  able  to  see  things  in  successive  order,   requires  this. 
Hence  the  necessity     of  systematic  divinity  -  hence  the  necessity  of 
confessions  of  faith  and  catechisms. 

These  are  advantageous  both  for  understanding  the  scriptures  and 
keeping  up  an  uniformity  of  doctrines  in  the  same  church:   but  as 
perfection  is  the  characteristic  of  the  word  of  God  alone,    it  would  be 
both  dangerous  and  wrong  to  give  that  epithet  to  any  confession, 
catechism,   or  other  system  of  human  composition.  This  matter  is  set  in 
a  proper  light  by  the  venerable  compilers  of  our  present  standards. 
Conf , chap . xxxi .   sect . 6  "all  synods  and  councils,   since  the  Apostles' 
times,  whether  general  or  particular,  may  err,   and  many  have  erred; 
therefore  they  are  not  to  be  made  the  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  but 
to  be  used  as  a  help  in  both." 

As  to  those  doctrines  in  the  word  of  God  that  respect  public 
worship,    in  point  of  matter  are  very  plain;   but   in  point  of  order  or 
arrangement  they  are  not  so  easily  understood.     Hence  different  forms 
of  public  worship  in  different  churches;   and  hence  the  propriety  of 


-5- 


one  uniform  directory  among  members  of  every  church  or  denomination  of 
christians,   that  each  individual  may  previously  know  the  order  and 
manner  of  religious  exercises.   As  to  church  government,  we  only  repeat 
the  right  already  asserted,   that  each  church  or  denomination  may.  and 
ought  to  declare,    in  what  sense  they  understand  the  model   laid  down  in 
the  word  of  God.     And  as  the     subject  of  church  government  is  not  very 
clearly  treated  in  the  scriptures,   opinions,    in  regard  of  this  mater 
(sic),  have  been  various. 

The  doctrine  of  church  government  hath  given  names  to  three 
denominations  of  christians:   the  Independents.   Episcopalians  and 
Presbyterians,   each  possessing  and  claiming  the  right  of  declaring 
their  respective  sentiments  on  the  subject. 

With  regard  to  discipline,   or  the  form  of  process  in  executing  this 
government,   every  sensible  man  knows  ,   that  it  is  left  chiefly  to  the 
direction  of  human    prudence.     Christ  Jesus  has  not  given  his  church 
a  form  of  process;   and  this  very  circumstance  is  sufficient  to 
convince  us,   that  there  was  no  necessity. 

Now,   brethren,   the  exercise  of  these  rights  are  attended,   in  our 
judgement,  with  only  two  restrictions. 

First  -  That  no  man  or  set  of  men  be  allowed  to  impose  his  or  their 
sense  of  the  scriptures  on  any  other  man  or  set  of  men.   so  as  to 
persecute  on  account  of  any  doctrine  or  sentiment,   purely  religious, 
and    not  immediately  striking  at  the  peace  and  good  order  of  civil 
society. 

Second.  That  no  one  thing  be  proposed  as  a  term  of  communion  in  the 
different  churches,   either  in  doctrine  or  practice,   unless  in  doctrine 
it  be  essential,   and  in  practice  directly  contrary  to  some  express 
command . 

Acting     on  these  scriptural  and  rational  principles,    let  us,   dear  » 
brethren,  divesting  our  minds  of  all  pre judice . and  in  the  spirit  of 
meekness,   take  a  short  and  summary  view  of  the  transactions  of  the 
late  synod  at  Philadelphia.   In  the  first  place  ,  with  respect  to 
doctrine,   they  have  done  little;   and  indeed  little  was  to  be  done.  The 
greater  part,   on  his  subject,  which  is  necessary,  was  already  prepared 
to  their  hands,   by  the  Westminster  assembly  of  divines,  whole 
confession  of  faith  they  have  adopted  themselves   ,   and  have 
recommended  the  adoption  of  it  to  you,   as  containing  in  their 
judgment,   the  system  of  doctrine     taught  in  the  holy  scriptures.  This 
is  expressed  in  such  manner  as  not  to  exclude  from  our  communion,  a 
pious  Episcopalian.   Associate,   or  Independent,   believing,   that  those 
who  shall  at   last  commune  together  forever  in  Heaven,  may  very  justly 
hold  communion  with  each  other  on  earth. 

The  synod  of  New-York  and  Philadelphia  have  adopted,   as  far  as  we 
know,   every  tittle   (sic)  of  the  articles  contained  in  the  Westminster 
confession  of  faith,   excepting  those  paragraphs  that  respect  the 
magistrate's  power  over  the  church;   and  those  paragraphs  they  have 
given  the  explanation  which  they  think  corresponds  with  scripture, 
reason  and  justice:   and  in  our  judgment,    they  have   left  the  matter  on 
that  footing  on  which  it  was     left  by  Jesus  Christ  in  his  gospel,  who 
renounces  all  concern  in  civil  government,   and  uniformly  testified. 


that  his  kingdom  was  not  of  this  world;   but  as  this  is  a  subject  that 
has  not  been  much  disputed  either  by  ministers  or  people,  we  refer  you 
to  the  explanation  of  the  new  system  to  speak  for  itself. 

This  system  has  been  the  subject  of  long,   repeated  and  critical 
discussion  by  the   late  synod  of  New-York  and  Philadelphia,   and  may  be 
shortly  expected  among  the  churches  bound  up  with  the  larger  and 
shorter  catechisms,   and  these  unitedly  remain  the  form  of  doctrine  for 
the  presbyterian  church  in  America.  We  believe  that  any  candid  person, 
examining  with  attention  this  confession  of  faith;   and  placing  in 
front  the  glory  of  God,   the  good  of  the  church,   and  the  salvation  of 
his  own  soul, instead  of  rejecting  it,  will  become  more  informed,  and 
better  established  in  the  doctrines  of  Christianity,   that  it  will 
increase  his  esteem  of  the  piety  and  abilities  of  its  venerable 
compilers,   and  be  to  him  a  public  testimony  of  the  attachment  of  the  ■ 
late  synod  of  New-York  and  Philadelphia  to  the  same  good  cause.  By 
due  and  impartial  perusal  of  the  late  published  system,  not 
considering  so  much  who  did  it,   as  what  it  is,   and  by  diligently 
comparing  it  with  the  word  of  God,  which  we  beseech  you  to  do,  you 
will  be  able  to  detect  and  counteract  the  insidious  attempts  of 
designing  men.  The  aim  of  such  incendiaries  is.   to  shake  your 
confidence  on  the  orthodoxy  of  your  teachers;   to  persuade  you  that  a 
total  subversion  of  the  faith  has  taken  place  in  the  late  synodical 
revivals;   that  all   is  wrong  with  us.   and  all   is  right  with  them.    It  is 
a  great  pity  that  such  good  principles  as  they  would  wish  you  to 
imagine  they  possess,  were  not  accompanied  with  a  better  practice. 

It  is  lamentable  to  observe,   that  some  who  profess  to  be  ministers 
of  Christ,  declare  by  their  conduct  that  they  are  trumpeters  of 
sedition  rather  than  ambassadors  of  the  PRINCE  OF  PEACE. 

Our  blessed  Lord  has  told  you  that  the  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit  - 
their  words  may  appear  to  profit  you:   they  may  be  calculated  to  please 
and  deceive  you;  but  follow  their  example,   and,    in  God's  great  name, 
where  would  it  end  ?     -  Although  perfection  in  holiness  be  not 
attainable  in  this  life,  yet  you  will  grant,   that  there  is  a 
conversation  which  becomes  the  Gospel  of  Christ,   and  there     is  another 
contrary  to  that  peace  and  holiness  which  it  universally  enjoins.  Your 
teachers  and  pastors  lay  no  claim  to  inf al 1 ibi 1 ity ; they  are  not  only 
willing  to  acknowledge  and  expunge  an  error  when  discovered  to  them, 
but  also  to  express  their  obligations  to  the  person  who  makes  the 
discovery;   remembering  all  the  time,   that  there  is  a  wide  difference 
between  a  bare  assertion,   the  basis  of  a  prejudiced  education  and  a 
full  proof.     On  the  whole,  we  trust  you  will  do  them  the  justice  to 
believe  that  their  adherence  to  reformation  principles  is  as  steady, 
their  attachment  to  scriptural  discipline  as  warm,   and  their  wishes 
for  your  your  souls'   welfare  as  genuine  and  sincere  as  any  class  of 
protestant  clergy  in  United  America.     With  regard  to  public  worship, 
the  recommendations  respecting  the  more  frequent  administration  of  the 
Lord's  supper,   appears  in  particular,   to  demand  an  impartial  and 
serious  enquiry;   and  were  you  you  to  take  the  time  and  pains  to  do 
this  we  are  persuaded  that  any  objection  against  the  mode  prescribed, 
would,   nearly  or  altogether,   vanish  -  namely  that  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  supper  be  administered  with  more  frequency,   and  fewer 
public  exercises.     It  is  with  a  view  of  keeping  up  a  lively 
remembrances  of  the  greatest  event  that  ever         took  place  in  this 
world,   and  the  salutary  influence  of  this  blessed  ordinance  on  the 
hearts  of  God's  people  that  we  ar  disposed     to  plead  for  this 


-7- 


alteration.     This  ordinance  is  one  of  the  most   lively  emblems  of 
heaven,  which  the  christian  worship  affords.     When  the  hands  are 
washed  in  innocency,   and  we  encompass  the  altar  of  God  with  a  lively 
and  devout  frame  of  soul,   in  the  reception  of  the  holy  ordinance, 
there  appears  to  be  one  step  between  this  and  "beholding  him  as  he 
is."     Can  there  be  any  object  that  should  be  remembered  so  frequently, 
as  that  redeemer  who  loves  us,   and  washed  us  from  our  sins  with  his 
own  blood,  who  remembered  us  before  his  incarnation.-   through  his 
suffering  and  despised  life,    in  the  garden  and  on  the  cross:  who  on 
Mount  Olivet  lifted  up  his  hands  and  blessed  his  disciples,  and 
through  them,   communicated  a  lasting  blessing  to  his  church;   and  while 
the  sweet  melody  of  his  voice  was  sounding  in  their  ears  was  parted 
from  them  and  carried  up  into  heaven,  where  the  memory  of  his 
people  is  engraven  on  his  heart  and  their  names  on  the  palms  of  his 
hands,   and  where  he  pleads  the  merits  of  his  sufferings  in  behalf  of 
his  people.   If  he  thus  remembers  us,  how  can  we  forget  him  ? 

"Now  though  he  reigns  exalted  high, 

"His  love  is  still  as  great; 

"Well  he  remembers  Calvary, 

"Nor  let  his  saints  forget." 
Were  we  able  to  unite  the  necessary  frequency  of  the 
administration  of  this  ordinance  with  the  labour  and  vacinity  of 
exercises  that  attend  the     usual  mode,  we  would  most  cheerfully 
attempt  it;  but  you  know  that  these  are  incompatible.  The  apostles 
administered  it  weekly,   the  primitive  christians  quarterly  or  monthly; 
and  in  the  days  of  Knox,   the  reforming  apostle  of  Scotland  ,   it  was 
monthly.     And  distance  of  time  from  the  memorable  time  of  the 
crucifixion,   instead  of  taking  from,   seems  to  form  an  argument  for  the 
more  frequent  administration  of  that  holy  ordinance.     The  Westminister 
directory  and  ours  both  recommend  a  preparatory  sermon  some  time  on 
the  preceding  week,   and  one  on  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  the 
ordinance  is  to  be  administered.     The  General  Assembly  of  the  church 
of  Scotland,   have  prescribed  one  sermon  on  the  day  before,   one  on  the 
morning  before,   and  a  thanksgiving  sermon,    it  is  presumed,   on  the 
evening  after;   and  one  assisting  minister  ,  whose  pulpit  is  to  be 
supplied  by  another.  How  easy  is  all  this  where  there  are  more 
ministers  than  vacant  churches  ?  yea,  more  would  be  practicable.  It 
has  been  the  practice  in  some  parts  of  Scotland  to  have  three  sermons 
on  a  fasting  day:   two  action-sermons,   a  thanksgiving  sermon  on  the 
evening,   and  two  on  Monday.   But  is  all  this  necessary  to  the  right 
administration  of  the  ordinance  ?     or  is  it  possible  in  a  land  like 
ours,  where  there  are  many  churches  and  few  to  supply  them  ?  Is  it 
essential  to  the  ordinance  ?     -you  know  it  is  not.   No  sensible  man 
will  suppose  this,   after  he  has  attentively  read  the  primitive 
institution,   and  the  manner  of  its  first  administration.    Is  it 
practicable  in  this  country  ?     You  must  be  sensible  it  is  not.  All 
that  you  gain  by  restricting  us  on  this  subject,    is.    that  you  deprive 
yourselves  of  the  reception  of  this  ordinance  more  than  once  or  twice 
in  the  year,   and  the  vacant  churches  altogether.  This  is  the  true 
state  of  the  subject;  your  mistake  arises  from  comparing  the  churches 
in  Scotland  and  Ireland  with  the  churches  in  America,  without 
comparing  their  different  circumstances;   and  the  clergy  in  those 
countries  complain  that  the  multiplicity  of  exercises  destroys  the 
frequent  administration  there,   notwithstanding  the  number  of 
administrators.   What  would  be  the  complaints  of  such  men,  were  they 
acquainted  with  the  true  state  of  our  churches  ! 

Words  might  be  multiplied  on  this  subject,   but  we  speak  as  to 
wise  men,    judge  ye  what  ye  say,   and  the  Lord  give  you  understanding  in 


-8- 


the  things  that  belong  to  your  peace. 

Respecting  church  government:  we  believe  you  will   find  no 
material  alteration.     The  Westminster  form,   nearly  in  the  words  we  are 
used  in  that  system  hath  been  adopted,   except  where  circumstances  of 
time  and  place  might  have  made  some  change  necessary.     The  synod  of 
Philadelphia  do  not  appear  to  thought  explanations  or  amendments  on 
that  subject  needful,   and  we  concur  with  them  on  that  point;   but  as  to 
discipline  it  was  otherwise.   Discipline  was  undoubtedly  the  chief 
object  of  the  synod.     Our  reforming  fathers  had  but  just  emerged  from 
popery,  when  they  gave  us  their  systems  of  discipline;   and  it  was 
difficult  for  them;   all  at  once,   to  be  entirely  free       from  that 
bigoted,   persecuting  spirit  which  they  opposed.     Religious  liberty  and 
rights  of  conscience  were,    in  that  dark  and  persecuting  age,  but 
imperfectly  understood.  Religious  assemblies  were  then  called  by  the 
civil  magistrate;   he  supported  their  authority  by  the  sword;   they  were 
under  his  controul ,   and  in  their  turn,   ratified  his  decrees.  The 
question  too  often  in  debate  was,  what  is  the  sovereign's  pleasure? 
The  influence  of  these  things  would  naturally  shew  itself  more  in 
discipline  than  doctrine  -  hence  many  things  therein  contained  that 
would  not  suit  a  people  under  no  civil  restraint  in  matters  of 
religion,   and  who  are  at  liberty  to  draw  their  systems  both  of 
doctrine  and  discipline  from  the  pure  fountain  of     divine  revelation. 

The  old  books  of  discipline  are  too  severe  in  their  spirit,  too 
ceremonius  in  their  form,   too  disproportionate  in  the  objects  of  their 
censure,   and  the  style  in  which  they  are  written  is  almost  obsolete, 
on  account  of  the  improvements  made  in  the  English  language,   since  the 
period  in  which  they  were  written.     Witness  the  severity  of  the  acts 
of  uniformity,   under  all  pain,   civil  and  ecclesiastic  -  witness  their 
forms  of  citations,   and  the  greater  excommunication,   prescribed  in 
Stewart's  collections  -  witness  the  disproportionate  notice  taken  of 
Sabbath-breaking  and  fornication,   compared  with  drunkenness, 
tale-bearing,   profane  swearing,   and  other  crimes.     In  these  we  also 
find  a  complication  of  things  civil  and  religious,   such  as  the 
question  concerning  the  right  of  the  King's  commissioner  to  sit  in 
general  assembly  -  the  right  of  patrons  and  patronage,   &c .   all  which 
are  by  no  means  applicable  to  the  present  state  of  our  churches;  which 
considerations  are     sufficient  to  convince  every  normal  and 
unprejudiced  mind  that  alterations  were  necessary  in  the  discipline  of 
the  church.   Having  endeavored  to  explain  some  necessary  things 
relative  to  the  church  of  Christ  we  proceed  - 

Secondly,   To  recommend  to  you  the  observation  and  practice  of  a 
variety  of  things,   all  which  appear  to  have  considerable  weight,  and 
may  terminate  in  your  advantage.  You  may  not  think  them  absolutely 
necessary;   but  must  acknowledge  they  are  altogether  expedient.  They 
might  be  enforced  with  arguments;   but  these  would  swell  this  letter 
beyond  its  intended  bounds.     We  therefore  hope  that  the  bare 
mentioning  of  them,  with  the  due  exercise  of  your  own  thoughts,  will 
be  sufficient,   and  answer  the  designed  purpose.     Live  within  your 
income.     To  do  this  is  a  duty  you  owe  to  yourselves,  your  families  and 
the  commonwealth.     If  any  of  you  have  contracted  the  ruinous  habit  of 
unnecessary  expenses,   endeavor  immediately  to  retrench  them.  Contract 
no  extravagant  debts.     Be  sparing  of  foreign  luxuries;   they  will  keep 
the  balance  of  trade  against  us,   and  make  our  country  poor;  therefore 
prefer  manufactures  of  your  own  country,   and  the  productions  of  your 
own  industry  and  your  own  land.   Seasonably  prepare  your  wills  and 
testaments,  which  ought  to  reviewed  and  ratified  as  changes  and 
occurrences  may  take  place,   at   least  once  on  every  year.  Clearly 
ascertain  your  property  in  the  worldly  estates  you  hold,   that  your 


-9- 


posterity,   as  well  as  yourselves,   may  be  as   little  involved  as 
possible  in  litigation  and  law  ;   and  in  order  to  that   .    let  your  debts 
and  credits  be  fairly  stated,    that  recourse  may  be  had  to  your  papers 
when  you  are  dead  and  gone.     Keep  your  congregational  and  other  public 
accounts  in  as  good  a  state  as  possible.     A  neglect  in  these  cases  is 
often  the  source  of  much  confusion  and  uneasiness.  Dispense  with  the 
use  of  ardent  spirits,   at  marriages,   funerals  especially,   times  of 
harvest  and  other  occasions,  where  it  has  been  found  pernicious  to  the 
peace,  health  and  morals  of  mankind.     Train  up  your  children  in  some 
honest  occupation,   and  think  not  that  binding  them  to  a  trade  is  a 
degradation.  May  we  ever  to  see  the  time,  when  he  only  will  be 
considered  a  free  citizen,  who  earns  his  living  by  some  lawful 
employment,   and  when  parents,  who  teach  their  children  nothing  but 
idleness,  will,  by  the  laws  of  the  states,     be  deprived  of  the 
government  of  them  altogether.     Accustom  your  children,   therefore,  to 
the  habits  of  industry,   economy,   temperance,   and  subordination; 
refrain  from  vagrant, idle  and  disorderly  companions.    "He  that  walketh 
with  wise  men,   shall  be  wise;   but  the  companion  of  fools  shall  be 
destroyed."     Revere  the  government  under  which  you  live  and  by  which 
you  are  protected;   teach  your  children  the  constitution  of  your 
country;     inform  them  that  we  and  they  with  us,  were  in  the  design  of 
our  enemies,   pharaoh ' s  bond-men  ;and  that  the  Lord  brought  us  out  of 
Egypt  with  a  mighty  hand.  Conscientiously  abide  by  all  the  just  and 
equitable  laws  of  your  country.     Pay  a  due  respect  to  all  officers  of 
justice  and  good  order,   as  ministers  of  God  for  good  to  you.  Attend 
punctually,   as  the   law  points  out,   on  all  military  duty,   and  consider 
it  your  duty  to  obey;   be  punctual   in  attending  on  all  public  elections 
for  representatives,   and  give  your  votes  for  those  who  appear  to  you 
to  be  best  qualified  to  serve  you  in  that  station.     How  surprising  and 
inconsistent  is  the  conduct  of  those  who  have  struggled  through  a  war 
of  so  many  years  duration,   to  obtain  certain  privileges,   and  will  not 
at  this  time  spend  one  day  in  the  year  at  our  places  of  election. 
Discharge  your  public  dues  with  punctuality  and  without  murmuring; 
assume  no  part  in  riots  or  quarrels:  have  as  little  intercourse  as 
possible  with  the  licentious  and  disorderly ; either  in  church  or  state; 
furnish  your  families  with  as  great  a  variety  as  possible,   of  approved 
religious  books;   appropriate  a  reasonable  portion  of  your  income  to 
the  building  and  repairing  of  churches   ,   and  to  the  education  of  poor 
and  pious  youths,  who  may  possess  promising  talents  for  the  ministry 
of  the  gospel;   countenance  and  promote  as  much  as  possible  all  schools 
and  seminaries  of  learning  from  the  most  private  up  to  those  of  the 
most  public  and  important  nature;     diffuse  your  beneface  to  the  poor 
and  needy  around  you  and  with  hearts  filled  with  benevolence  to  your 
fellow-creatures,   endeavor  to  honour  God  in  the  use  of  that  worldly 
substance  with  which,    in  the  bounty  of  his  providence,   he  has  blessed 
you . 

We  recommend  to  all  vacant  societies,  who  expect  stated  supplies 
from  our  several  presbyteries,   to  form  themselves  into  congregations 
regularly  organized,   and  to  elect  such  of  their  members  as  may  appear 
best  qualified  to  act  as  ruling  elders,   and  to  apply  to  their 
respective  presbyteries  for  ordination;   that  they  may  be  helps  to  us 
in  government,   and  be  able  to  act  in  a  judicial  capacity,    in  those 
societies  in  which  they  are  appointed;   to  take  up  regular 
subscriptions  and  annual  collections  for  all  necessary  purposes;  to 
erect  and  put  in  order  suitable  houses  for  the  worship  of  God,   and  to 
obtain  legal  right  for  the  lots  of  ground  on  which  they  are  built;  on 
order  to  prevent  those  difficulties  that  might  hereafter  ensue,   by  a 
transfer  made  by  the  present  proprietors  to  persons  of  other 


-10- 


denominations.  We  further  recommend  to  vacant  congregations,   to  apply 
to  their  respective  presbyteries  for  congregational  catechising,  and 
the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper;   and  although  the  former 
cannot  be  expected  to  be  as  largely  entered  into,   not  the  latter  as 
frequently  administered  as  in  our  stated  charges,  yet  we  do  not  wish 
that  any  of  the  churches  under  our  care  should  be  altogether  destitute 
of  those  ordinances  which  have  been  salutary  to  god's  people,   in  all 
ages  of  the  christian  church.  We  sincerely  lament  the  destitute 
situation  of  our  vacancies  -  so  many  in  number  -  some  of  them  remote 
from  us  -  and  so  few  to  supply  them.  We  are  sensible  that  your 
destitute  situation  may  sometimes  induce  you  to  invite  and  encourage 
strangers  to  administer  ordinances  among  you..,  before  you  are 
sufficiently  acquainted  with  their  characters,   abilities  and 
principles.  -  But  as  you  have  taken  the  members  of  the  presbyteries  of 
South-Carolina,  Abingdon  and  Orange  for  your  spiritual  guides,  permit 
us  to  inform  you  that  these  are  the  channels  through  which  you  ought  ■ 
only  to  receive  them.   -  God     forbid  that  we  should  desire  to  prevent 
you  from  hearing  a  single  sermon  from  any  one.   of  whatever 
denomination,  whom  Christ  hath  sent  to  preach  the  gospel,   or  that  we 
should  wish  any  vacancy  to  adhere  to  us  one  moment  longer  than  is 
consistent  with  their  advantage;   but  we  beseech  you  to  conduct  orderly 
with  regard  to  strangers.     Look  at  the  fate  of  some  unhappy 
congregations  who  have  been  too  rash  already  in  their  conduct  toward 
them.  He  must  be  a  very  ignorant  man,   or  a  very  bad  man,  who  cannot 
pass  for  one  day  among  any  people;   and  think  not  because  a  man  may 
please  you  for  a  sermon  or  two,   that  he  will  always  continue  to  merit 
your  approbation.     We  do  not  mean  to  hinder  you  from  occasionally 
hearing  strangers  of  any  regular  denomination  of  christians,  who  are 
found  in  the  faith  provided  they  be  not  of   ill   fame.   Every  man  ought 
to  be  considered  as  a  good  man,   until  he  be  known  to  be  bad;  nor 
should  an  evil  report  be  believed,  whoever  may  be  the  author  ,   till  we 
are  certain  it  is  true.     But  we  would  dissuade  you  from  encouraging 
strangers  to  settle  among  you  for  any  considerable  time,   as  your 
teachers,  who  refuse  to  cultivate  an  acquaintance  with  your  respective 
presbyteries,  who  may  appear  to  be  more  intent  on  making  parties  than 
christians;   or  who  cannot  produce  proper  testimonials  from  some 
regular  church  in  America.   Foreign  credentials  may  be  either  forfeited 
or  forged;   and  it  may  be  difficult,    if  mot  impracticable,   to  be 
informed  of  the  one  or  detect  the  other;   and  every  man  of  a  fair 
character  and  honest  heart,  will  readily  submit  to  those  rules 
established  in  the  church  of  Christ,   by  attaching  himself  to  that 
church  and  subjecting  himself  to  that  body  of  ministers  with  whom  his 
religious  sentiments  may  correspond.  We  solemnly  call  upon  all, 
especially  the  rulers  of  our  vacant  congregations,   to  be  cautious  in 
this  matter;   and  we  think  it  the  duty  of  the  private  members  to  leave 
the  direction  of  it  to  the  rulers  of  their  respective  societies.  We 
also  call  upon  all  ruling  elders  and  representatives  in  our  vacant 
churches  to  be  careful   in  the  admission  of  members  to  the  sealing 
ordinances  of  the  gospel;   to  see  that  not  only  the  profane  and  grossly 
ignorant  be  prohibited  from  them,   but  also  those,  whatever  may  be 
their  moral  characters;  who  acknowledge  to  be  habitual  absentees  from 
the  public  worship  of  God,   or  who  omit  his  worship  in  their  families. 
We  exhort  all  under  our  care  to  cultivate  christian  charity  and 
forbearance  toward  all  men,   and  especially  to  those  you  belong  to  the 
household  of  faith;   to  prevent  and  remove  as  much  as  possible  every 
ground  of  unchristian  animosity,   that  no  occasion  may  be  given  for 
enemies  to  reproach  the  cause  of  religion,    nor  unnecessary  trouble 
given  to  the  rulers  of  the  church.     But  when  it  is  known  that  any 


-11- 


member  of  the  church  has  been  guilty  of  immorality,  which,    if  it 
should  pass  without  censure,   the  cause  of  religion  would  suffer,  we 
earnestly  recommend  that  it  be  made  known  to  the  rulers  of  the  church, 
least,   by  a  criminal  silence,   those  who  know  it,   become  partakers  of 
other  men's  sins;   and  where  it  seems  necessary    to  give  such 
information,    let  the  glory  of  God.   the  honor  of  religion  and  the  good 
of  the  offender  be  the  leading  motives.       But  let  not  such  information 
be  delayed  until   immediately  before  the  party  offending  may  expect  to 
be  admitted  to  sealing  ordinances,   provided  it  can  be  made  soon   ,  in 
order  to  prevent  those  difficulties  which  must  inevitably  occur,  both 
in  respect  to  the  parties  themselves,   and  the  judicatory  to  which  they 
are  subject. 

Brethren,  we  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention,    in  the 
recommendatory  way,   to  one  subject  more,   to  which,    if  you  properly 
attend  cannot  fail  to  conduce  to  the  advantage  both  of  religious  and 
civil  society  -  we  mean  literature.     It  has  been  the  object  of  all 
wise  nations  to  promote  the  education  of  youth.     The  Jews,   at  a  very 
early  period,  had  their  schools  of  the  prophets.     The  apostles  and 
primative  christians  had  their  gymnasia,   or  places  of  education  for 
young  men,  who  designed  to  preach  the  gospel.     It  would  be  endless  to 
enumerate  all  the  exertions  that  have  been  made  by  nations, 
societies , and  individuals  to  promote  the  improvement  of  the  human 
mind;   nor  do  we  believe  it  is  without  weighty  reasons,   that  our 
southern  legislatures  have  not  paid  more  attention  to  that  important 
subject,  when  we  consider  that  complication  of  civil  and  military 
business  in  which  they  have  been  necessarily  involved.     But  we  hope 
the  time  is  not  far  off,  when  they  will  give  us  more  than  charters  for 
colleges  and  academies,   of  which,   perhaps,   they  have  been  too  liberal. 

Certain  it  is  that  literature  is  not  encouraged  in  these  southern 
states,   equal  to  its  importance  -  too  much  learning  and  not  half 
enough  -  too  many  seats  of  learning,   and  not  one  properly  furnished. 
Should  we  be  remiss  in  this  matter,   and  the  northern  states  promote  it 
with  zeal  and  vigour,   as  it  is  well  known  they  do,    is  it  possible  we 
will  maintain  that  importance  in  the  view  of  the  political  and 
literary  world  that  will  be  productive     either  of  our  honour  or 
advantage,   this,  with  many  other  considerations  that  will  readily 
occur  to  you,   should  excite  you  to  pay  friendly  attention  to  the 
education  of  youth,   that  their  minds  may  be  enlightened,   and  their 
hearts  formed  to  religion  and  virtue,   and  may  be  capable  of  conducting 
the  affairs  of  church  and  state,  when  you  shall  be   laid  in  the  dust. 
To  live  long,   those  of  us  who  are  now  on  the  stage  of  active  life, 
have  no  reason  to  expect.   It  ought  then  to  be  our  care  so  to  act,  that 
posterity  may  bless  our  memories  after  we  are  gone  down  to  the  grave, 
and  the  eye  which  hath  seen  us  shall  see  us  no  more.     We  therefore 
recommend  to  you  all.   to  confer  with  one  another  on  this  interesting 
subject,   and  with  one  heart,    if  you  regard  your  posterity,   to  take 
without  delay,   such  measures  as  may  appear  best  calculated  to  promote 
the  interest  of  learning.     We  proceed  - 

Thirdly.    In  this  synodical   capacity,  with  hearts  and  tongues 
united,   to  address  you  on  some  subjects  that  are  of  unceasing 
importance  at  all  times  and  in  all  places.   -  They  may  be  reduced  to 
these  two  -  personal  and  social  duties.     Personal  religion  is  in  the 
first  place  necessary,   because  it  only  can  lay  a  solid  and  permanent 
foundation  for  the  performance  of  any  duty,  whether  personal  or 
social.     The   limits  of  a  single   letter  will  not  allow  us  to  enter 
largely  into  this  very  interesting  subject.     Perhaps  it  may  be 
sufficient  to  say,   that  personal  religion  consists  in  a  heart 


-12- 


regenerated  by  the  holy  spirit  of  God,   the  exercise  of  evangelical 
repentance,   and  of  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;   and  these 
expressing  themselves  in  a   life  of  goodness,   righteousness  and 
sobriety,   or  in  an  inward  esteem  and  reverence  for  God,   and  an  outward 
regard  for  his  worship  and  law.     Without  these,   dear  brethren,  without 
the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  your  hearts,  you  cannot  possibly  be 
either  safe  or  happy  -  you  cannot  have  communion  with  a  holy  God  here, 
nor  enjoy  him  in  the  world  to  come.     Suffer  us  to  tell  you  what  the 
Lord  God  himself  hath  said:    "Except  a  man  be  born  again,   he  cannot  see 
the  kingdom  of  God."     Unless  the   living  and  divine  principles  of 
faith,   repentance,   and  love  be  implanted  in  your  hearts  by  the  good 
spirit  and  grace  of  God.  you  cannot  enjoy  the  communion  of  the  saints 
in  this  world,   nor  the  presence  of  God  in  a  world  of  glory.     For  God's 
sake,   and  for  the  salvation  of  your  own  souls,   receive  this  truth,  " 
he  that  believeth,   and  is  baptized,   shall  be  saved,   but  he  that 
believeth  not,   shall  be  damned."     depend  not  on  outward  profession, 
but  remember  that  the  temper  of  mind  is  the  standard  in  the  sight  of 
God.     The  necessity  of  the  alternate  exercises  of  faith  and 
repentance,   through  the  whole  course  of  the  christian's   life  -  the 
necessity  of  these  graces  acting  and  re-acting  on  each  other  -  viewing 
alternately  our  sins  and  our  saviour,   our  savior  and  our  sins  -  the 
malady  and  the  cure,   the  cure  and  the  malady  -  the  necessity  of  a 
renewed  heart  and  a  progressive  work  of  sanct i f i cat  ion  is  founded  both 
in  the  nature  of  God  and  man.     This  necessity  grows  out  of  the  divine 
nature  and  attributes;   and  the  depravity  of  the  human  heart  calls 
loudly  for  the  above  mentions  exercises.     It  grows  out  of  all  the 
attributes  of  God,   but  is  especially  connected  with  his  holiness  - 
that  holiness  which  glows,   and  burns,   and  blazes  and  consumes  -  "our 
God  is  a  consuming  fire."     This  attribute  is  the  glory  of  the  divine 
glory;   it  is  resounded  through  the  universe  both  m  acts  of  mercy  and 
judgment.     Holy!  holy!  holy!   is  the  unceasing  and  active  voice  of 
heaven.  Holy!   holy!   holy!    is  the  suffering  language  of  Tophet .  Every 
cry  and  groan  from  those  dreary  regions,   says,   holy  art  thou  Lord  God 
Almighty   !     The  garden  of  Eden,   the  plains  of  Sodom,  Mount  Sinai,  and 
Mount  Calvary  all  speak  the  same   language; and  will   not  man  believe 
their  united  reports   !  Now  this  holy  Lord  God  Almighty  hath,    in  all 
his  truth  and  terrible  majesty,   raised  up  his  right  hand. and  said,  yea 
sworn,   that  unbelievers  "  shall  not  enter  into  his  rest  -  that  there 
shall  not  enter  into  Heaven  any  thing  that  defileth,  neither 
whatsoever  work  abomination  or  maketh  a  lie." 

The  necessity  of  regeneration,   or  personal  religion,    is  also 
deeply  rooted  in  the  depravity  of  human  nature:   as  in  the  nature  of 
God  himself.    "You  must  be  born  again."  Were  God  to  dispense  with  his 
holiness  -  to  break  both  word  and  oath  -  to  take  up  the  unholy  to 
Heaven,   and  place  him  in  the  rays  of  the  sun  of  righteousness  -  to 
crop  the  flowers  of  Paradise,   and  drink  the  streams  of   love;   all  in 
vain;   that  sun  to  him  would  lose  its  brightness,    the  flowers  waste 
their  fragrance,   the  songs  of  the  Heavenly  host  be  grating  to  his 
ears,   and  rivers  of  pleasure  flow  in  vain.   All  these,   and  even  the 
presence  of  God  himself,  with  the  addition  of  the  smiles  of  his 
countenance,  would  yield  no  happiness  to  the  unrenewed  heart. 

Is  it  not  surprising,   that  man,   otherwise  sensible,  will  never 
compare  their  feelings  here  with  those  they  may  expect  hereafter  ?  A 
bible  and  a  ball  -  a  church  and  a  tavern-  a  burying  ground  and  a  race 
track  -  a  sacramental   table  and  a  gaming  table;   set  these  in 
competition,    call  on  conscience,   and  one  would  think  the  work  were 


-13- 


done.      "What  concord  hath  Christ  with  Beliel?"     Some  may  perhaps  say 
the  contrast   is  unfair.     Modes  and  manners,    the   indulgence  of  a  few 
passions,   relaxation,    innocent  amusements,   unguarded  hours,   (i^c .  are 
too  trivial  to  be  made  the  criterion  of  personal   and  real  religion. 
Let  us  rather  judge  how  this  matter  stands  from  our  daily  stated 
employments  or  regular  occupations  in  life.     We  acknowledge  that  these 
things  may  appear  trifles,    light  as  the  feather  which  flies  before  the 
wind;   but  they  are  trifles  which  like  feathers,   may  discover  to  you 
the  direction  of  the  wind,   and  point  out  the  course  in  which  your 
imiTiortal  souls  are  travelling,   and  what  will  be  the  end.     Our  Lord 
took  notice  of  the  Jewish  phylacteries:   and  it  is  likely  that  to  them 
this  appeared  a  trifle;   nor  could  the  border  of  a  garment  be  of  much 
consequence  in  its  own  nature,   but  it  discovered  the  prevailing  temper 
and  turn  of  the  mind,   and  what  objects  most  engaged  the  attention. 

Dear  brethern,  we  beseech  you  to  compare  the   life  and  spirit  of  , 
your  actions,   with  the  spirit  and  genius  of  the  gospel,   the  life  of 
its  author  and  his  followers,   and  examine  if  the  same  mind  be  in  you, 
which  also  was  in  Christ  Jesus;   for  if  any  man  have  not  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  he  is  none  of  his.     Do  not  rashly  conclude,   that  there  is  no 
reality  in  religion,   because  some  of  you,  who  may  read  this  letter, 
have  never  felt  the  power  of  it  in  your  own  souls.   And  if  you  be  found 
wanting,  when  thus  weighed  in  the  balance,   rest  not,   for  God's  sake, 
and  the  sake  of  your  own  souls,  rest  not  we  pray  you.   until  you  obtain 
some  comfortable  hopes  of  your  personal  religion,   and  an  interest  in 
the  favour  of  God,   by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ. 

When  the  principles  of  grace  are  implanted  in  the  heart  they  will 
soon  scatter  their  influence  and  become  diffusive;   as  a  stone,  falling 
into  the  lake,   spreads  the  circling  waves  wider  and  still  wider;  so 
personal  religion  will   catch  from  heart  to  heart,   spread  and  become 
social,   and  still  more  social,   and  at   last  diffuse  itself  to  such 
extent,   till  the  earth  be  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,   as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea.     And  can  we,   brethren,   behold  so  many  precious 
souls  tottering,   as  it  were,   on  the  brink  of  eternal  perdition,  and 
not  unite  our  prayers  to  God  for  a  time  refreshing  from  his  presence.  » 

We,   then,   as  ambassadors  for  Christ,   as  though  God  did  beseech 
you  by  us,   pray  you,    in  this  united  capacity,    in  Christ's  stead,  that 
you  be  reconciles  to  God;   give  him  no  rest  until  Christ,   by  his 
spirit,  be  found  in  you.     Then  only  will  you  be  fitted  to  live:  then 
only  will  you  be  prepared  to  die;   and  will  know,   to  your  happy  and 
everlasting  experience,   that  in  keeping  God's  commands  there  is  a 
great  reward  -  then  will  you  be  prepared  to  perform  your  personal 
duties. 

These  consist  in  preparing  the  heart  for  communion  with  God, 
living  near  to  him  in  the  secret  as  well  as  the  more  public  duties  of 
religion,  reading  and  meditating  on  his  word;   the  exercise  of  fervent, 
secret  prayer  keeping  the  heart  mortifying  sin,   and  crucifying  the 
flesh,  with  affections  and  lusts;   exercising  moderation  in  the  use  of 
meat,   drink,   recreation,   and  all  other  gifts  of  providence;  and 
improving  those  means  that  God  hath  appointed  for  preserving  our  life, 
health,   and  reputation.    In  fine,   denying  all  ungodliness  and  worldly 
lusts,   and  living  righteous,   sober  and  godly  lives,   before  God  as  well 
as  before  the  world. 

These  things  we  barely  mention  and  pass  by.   being  well  persuaded. 


-14- 


that  those  whose  hearts  have  been  renewed  by  regenerating  grace,  will 
make  them  their  study,   and  reduce  them  to  practice.   And  those  whom  God 
and  their  own  conscience  knov;  to  be   living  in  the  neglect  or  any  or 
all  of  these  duties,   ought  to  note   it  as  a  melancholy  fact,  that 
they  are  m  the  gall  of  bitterness,   and  bond  of  iniquity. 

Having  addressed  you  on  the  subject  of  personal  duties,  exhorted 
you  to  secure  through  grace,  the  salvation  of  your  own  souls,  we  come 
now  to  mention  some  things  respecting  relative  or  social  duties, 

A  family  was  the  first. and  is  the  foundation  of  all  other 
societies;   and  husband     and  wife  the  first  of  all   family  relations.  We 
do.    in  the  language  of  the  Apostle  Paul,   exhort  you  who  are  husbands 
"to  love  your  wives,   and  be  not  bitter  against  them    -  Wives  submit 
yourselves  to  your  own  husbands,   as  is  fit  in  the  Lord."  Remember, 
that  your  plighted  vows  are  registered  in  Heaven;  you  have  joined 
hands,    let  your  hearts  be  united.     Encourage  and  support  each  other  in 
your  journey  through  life;   and.  with  a  happy  union  of  souls,  keep 
steadily  in  view  that  abode  of  endless  joy  m  Heaven,  where  "they 
neither  marry,   nor  are  given  in  marriage,  but  are  as  the  angels  of  God 
in  Heaven . 

Cultivate  family  peace  -  "See  that  ye  fall   not  out  by  the  way." 
It  is  good  and  pleasant  for  all;   but  oh,  how  good  and  pleasant  for 
husband  and  wife  to  dwell  together  in  unity!   Without  unity  between  the 
heads  of  a  family,   the  relative  duties  can  never  be  discharged;    it  is 
of  the  last  importance  with  regard  to  the  education  of  your  children, 
and  greatly  contributes  to  your  own  improvement  in  virtue  and 
religion;   and  finally  family  peace  is  attended  with  a  degree  of 
pleasure  and  satisfaction,  which  nothing  under  Heaven  can  afford  but 
Itself;  with  it  there  will  be  little  wanting:  without  it,  and 
possessing  all  the  world  besides,  you  will  be  poor  indeed  -  "Better  is 
a  dinner  of  herbs  where  love  is,   than  a  stalled  ox  and  hatred 
therewith."     If  there  be  a  person  under  Heaven  who  deserves  the 
contempt  of  men  and  the  displeasure  of  the  Almighty,    it  is  that 
person,  whether  male  or  female,  who  is  the  author  of  family  discord 
and  contention.   -  In  order  to  obtain  and  perpetuate  family  peace 
observe  this  short  rule  "love  one  another  with  pure  hearts  fervently." 

When  a  family  live  together  in  peace,    it   is  one  of  the  brightest 
images  of  Heaven  that  this  troublesome  vvorld  can  afford;   and  the 
contrast  is  a  terrible  and  striking  picture  of  that  place  of  blackness 
darkness  and  tempest;  where  there  is  nothing  to  be  seen  but  sights  of 
woe  -  all  confusion  and  eternal  pain.      "Blessed  are  the  peace-makers, 
for  they  shall  be  called  the  children  of  God,   and  cursed  are  the 
peace-breakers,    for  they  must  be  accounted  the  children  of  Satan.  - 
Live  in  peace,   and  the  God  of   love  and  peace  be  with  you." 

If  God  hath  been  pleased  to  bless  you  with  a  number  of  olive 
plants  around  your  table,   unite  your  exertions  in  nursing  them  up 
for  God,   and  for  the  good  of  mankind. 

Delightful  task   !   to  rear  the  tender  thought;   To  teach  the 
young  idea  how  to  shoot;   To  pour  the  fresh  instructions  o'er  the 
mind. 

Oh, parents   !   remember  your  obligations  both  natural  and 
voluntary,   to  walk  in  the  ways  of  piety  yourselves,   and  to  bring  up 


-15- 


your  children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  Consider 
that  the  testimony  ot  a  good  conscience  can  never  be  supported . un 1  ess 
it  be  by  a  life  of  practical  godliness,   and  the  faithful  discharge  of 
relative  duties;   that  children,   even  in  early   life,   become  sensible  to 
their  parents'   obligations  to  regard  both  their  education  and  morals. 
-  And  although  children  from  their  early  proneness  to  walk  in  the  ways 
of  impiety,  may  be  well   pleased  for  the  present     with  the   liberty  of 
an  unlawful   indulgence:  yet  they  will  secretly  blame  their  parents  for 
granting  it. and  in  the  end  despise  both  them  and  their  authority;  and 
consider  what  pernicious  effect  it  must  have  on  their  minds  to  see  you 
passing  by,  with  negligence,   those  important  duties  which  you  owe  to 
God  and  your  families. or  walking  in  ways  inconsistent  with  them. 
Consider  that  example  is  the  best   instructor,   and  that  the  best 
precepts  will  probably  be  inefficacious,  unless  they  be  manifested  in 
conversation . 

Be  pleased  farther  to  consider,   how  great  may  be  your  influence 
over  your  children's  minds;  you  are  their  natural  guardians,   and  have 
usually  the  highest  place  in  their  affections,   they  will  therefore  be 
most  easily  influenced  by  your  counsels,   and  disposed  to  follow  your 
example;   and  as  the  best  means  commonly  procure     the  most  desirable 
end,   so  diligence  in  instruction,   and  godliness  in  practice,  will 
probably  obtain  the  beginning  and  farther  progress  of  religion  in  your 
families. 

We  therefore  exhort  all  who  have  the  government  of  families  to 
walk  worthy  of  the  christian  character.     Consider  how  much  with  the 
blessing  of  Heaven,  you  may  do  to  make  our  work  pleasing  and 
profitable;   and  how  happily  you  may  unite  your  influence  with  ours,  in 
promoting  the  common  cause  of  religion. 

Parent,   be  not  so  inconsistent  with  your  baptismal  profession  as 
to  refuse  the  other  seal  of  the  covenant  of  grace.     The  sacraments 
have  been  both  instituted  by  the  same  God;   they  are  both  seals  of  the 
same  covenant;   they  both  require  faith  in  Christ  as  the  term,   and  have 
been  when  thus  received,   the  means  of  communion  with  Christ,  and 
channels  by  which  he  has  often  conveyed  spiritual    life  to  his  people. 

But  parents  and  heads  of  families,   think  it  not  surprising  if  we 
inform  you,   that  God  hath  committed  others  to  your  care  besides  your 
natural  offspring,    in  the  welfare  of  whose  souls  you  are  also  deeply 
interested . and  whose  salvation  you  are  bound  to  endeavor  to  promote  - 
we  mean  your  slaves:   poor  creatures   !   shall  they  be  bound  for  life, 
and  their  owners  never  once  attempt  to  deliver  their  souls  from  the 
bondage  of  sin,   nor  point  them  to  eternal   freedom,   through  the  blood 
of  the  son  of  God   !     On  this  subject  we  beg  leave  to  submit  to  your 
consideration  the  conduct  of  Abraham  the  father  of  the  faithful, 
through  whose  example  is  communicated  unto  you  the  commandment  of  God 
Gen  xviii.xix  "For  I  know  him  (says  God)   that  he  will  command  his 
children,   and  his  household  after  him,   that  they  shall  kept  the  ways 
of  the  Lord,   to  do  justice  and  judgement." 

Masters  and  servants  attend  to  your  duty  in  the  express  language 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  -  "servants  obey  your  masters   in  all   things;  not 
with  eye-service  as  men  pleasers,   but  in  singleness  of  heart,  fearing 
God;   and  whatsoever  you  do,   do  it  heartily,   as  to  the  Lord,   and  not  to 
man.   And  you  masters  render  to  your  servants  their  due.   knowing  that 
your  master  is  also  in  Heaven,   neither  is  there  respect  of  persons 


-16- 


with  him. " 

And  let  those  who  govern,   and  those  who  are  governed,  make  the 
object  of   living  in  this  world,   to  prepare  to  meet  your  God  and  Judge, 
when  all  shall  stand     on  a  level  before  his  bar.   and  receive  their 
decisive  sentence  according  to  the  deeds  done   in  the  body. 

Children,  you  have  read  the  duties  and  obligations  of  your 
parents  -  is  it  possible  they  owe  so  many  to  you,   and  you  owe  none  to 
them  ?   "Obey  your  parents  in  the  Lord,    for  this  is  right:   honour  thy 
father  and  thy  mother,   for  this  is  the  first  commandment  with 
promise."  But,   children,   is  your  God  to  be  forgotten  ?  the  support  of 
your  infancy,   the  guardian  of  your  childhood,   and  the  protector  of 
your  riper  years   !   surely  no.    "Remember  your  creator  in  the  days  of 
your  youth,   enter  not  in  the  path  of  the  wicked;   go  not  in  the  way  of 
evil  men;   avoid  it,   pass  by  it.   turn  from  it,   pass  away;   for  youthful 
lusts,  which  war  against  the  soul;   have  no  fellowship  with  unfruitful 
works  of  darkness,   but  rather  reprove  them. 

Young  people,  we  exhort  you  to  be  sober-minded; you  are  our  hope 
both  for  church  and  state,  when  we  shall  be  numbered  with  our  fathers 
in  the  dust,   only  lips  dosed  in  silence,   and  our  voices  reach  you  no 
more. We  beseech  you,   by  the  mercies  of  God,   that  you  remember  your 
obligations  to  your  creator;   and  also  to  your  dear  parents,  who  have 
solemnly  devoted  you  m  baptism;   and  remember,   through  them,  your  own 
obligations  and  vows  to  deny  all  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts,   and  to 
live  righteously,   soberly  and  godly  in  this  present  world.  Remember 
that  this  is  the  most  favourable  time  to  obtain  the  grace  of  God,  and 
to  secure  an  interest  in  his  favour,   before  the  habits  of  vice  become 
rooted  in  the  heart,   and  the  mind  entangled  with  love  of  pleasure. 
May  God  direct  this  truth  to  your  hearts,   that  there  is  no  solid 
pleasure  for  the  present,   nor  foundation  for  future  happiness,  without 
an  interest  in  Christ;   and  that  wisdom's  ways  are  ways  of 
pleasantness,   and  all  her  paths  peace. 

Hasten  then  young  men  and  women,  hasten  to  the  school  of  Christ; 
learn  of  him,   for  he  is  meek  and  lowly,   and  ye  shall   find  rest  to  your 
souls;  manifest  your  attachment  to  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer,   by  a 
constant  attendance  on  his  ordinances;   shew  the  world  your  adherence 
to  him,   by  appearing  among  his  people  at  his  holy  table,   and  learn  to 
despise  that  reproach  which  others  cast  on  you  for  his  sake;   he  is  the 
best  master,   his  service  is  perfect  freedom,   and  his  wages  honour, 
glory  and  immortal   life.    "And  whoever  shall  be  ashamed  of  him  and  of 
his  words  in  this  wicked  and  adulterous  generation,   of  him     shall  the 
son  of  man  be  ashamed,   when  he  comes  in  his  ow,   and  in  his  father's 
glory,  with  the  holy  angels." 

Servants  be  willing  to  receive  instruction,   and  discourage  not 
your  masters  by  your  stubbornness  or  aversion.     Remember  the  interest 
is  your  own,   and  ,    if  you  be  wife,    it  will  be  for  your  own  good;  spend 
the  sabbath  in  learning  to  read,   and  in  teaching    your  young  ones, 
instead  of  rambling  around  from  place  to  place;   a  few  years  will  give 
you  many  sabbaths,  which  if  rightly  improved,  will  be  sufficient  for 
the  purpose.     Attend  also  on  public  worship  when  you  have  opportunity, 
and  behave  there  with  decency  and  good  order. 

Were  these  relative  duties  conscientiously  practised  by  husbands 


-17- 


and  wives,   children  and  servants,   how  pleasing  would  be  the  sight 
expressing,   by  your  conduct,   pious  Joshua's  resolution,    "as  for  me  and 
my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord." 

The  next  branch  of  relative  or  social  religion  is  that  which 
arises  from  the  several   churches  or  religious  societies  to  which  you 
you  may  respectively  belong.     One  word  on  this  subject  will  be 
sufficient,   after  what  has  been  said  in  the  recommendatory  way:  our 
stated  charges  we  have  weekly  opportunities  of  addressing:   and  were 
the  churches  in  general  to  comply  with  the  mode  of  administering  the 
Lord's  supper,   prescribed  by  the  late  synod  of  New  York  and 
Philadelphia,    it  would  put  it  in  our  power  to  visit  the  vacancies  more 
frequently  in  that  way.   and  who  does  not  see  that  this  would  have  a 
greater  tendency  to  cherish  the  life  of  religion  in  our  vacancies, 
than  only  a  sermon  or  two  in  the  course  of  a  year. 

The  last  branch  of  relative  duty  is  national.:   this,    like  the 
former,  grows  out  of  family  relation:   for  nations  are  but  a  collection 
of  families,   and  the  families  under  our  care  form  a  part  of  the  nation 
to  which  we  belong.     We  say  to  you,    in  the  language  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,   by  the  Apostle  Paul   "let  every  soul  be  subject  to  the  higher 
powers;   for  the  powers  that  be,   are  ordained  of  God."  And  considering 
the  present  state  of  our  public  affairs,  we  beseech  you  to  study  those 
things  that  make  for  peace:   promote  and  preserve  unanimity,  and 
finally  bring  forward  a  permanent  union,   on  the  broad  and  solid  basis 
of  civil  and  religious   liberty:   remember  that  union  will  make  us  happy 
at  home,   and  respected  abroad  -  in  a  word,   remember  that 
"righteousness  exalteth  a  nation,   but  sin  is  a  reproach  to  any 
people . " 

We  would  as  a  synod,   commit  and  commend  you  and  all  men  to  God, 
and  to  his  holy  protection.     We  beseech  you  to  look  up  to  the  king  of 
nations,   and  believe  in  his  providence:   he  sitteth  king  and  shall 
forever;   see  that  you  observe  his   laws;   call  down  by  frequent,  ardent 
prayer,   the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  yourselves  and  families,   the  church 
in  general,   and  the  nation  to  which  you  belong:   and  be  not  unmindful 
of  past  favours,   unite  in  prayer  to  God  for  the  increase  of  the 
Mediator's  kingdom,   that  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  send:  his 
gospel,   in  its  power  and  splendor,   to  the  most  distant  parts  of  the 
earth  and  bring  heathen  nations  to  know  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

To  magistrates  we  say  "hear  you  the  causes  between  your  brethern, 
and  judge  righteously  between  every  man  and  his  brother,   and  the 
stranger  that  is  with  him;   seek  judgement,   relieve  the  oppressed, 
plead  for  the  widow.     You  shall   not  respect  persons  in  judgment;  but 
you  shall  hear  the  small  as  well  as  the  great;  you  shall   not  be  afraid 
of  the  face  of  man,    for  the  judgment  is  the  Lord's."  Therefore  be 
faithful   in  the  execution  of  your  work  -  discourage  vice  -  encourage 
virtue  -  and  bear  not  the  sword  in  vain.  Manifest  your  attachment  to 
religion, and  good  morals,   by  a  conversation  becoming  the  gospel,  and 
the  impartial  administration  of  justice. 

There  is  yet  another  subject  to  which  we  wish  to  call  the 
attention  of  all,   and  especially  the  people  at   large,   as  the  matter 
rests  more  immediately  with  them.     The  subject   is  the  manner  in  which 
matrimony  is  celebrated  among  us.     We  know  it   is  delicate,   and  that  we 
hazard  the  suspicion  of  mercenary  views;   but  as  we  sometimes  meet  with 
such  charges  without  cause,   and  as  we  are  conscious  of  the  purity  of 


-18- 


our  motives  in  this  part i cu 1 ar , we  take  the   liberty  to  tell  you.  that 
it   13  your  duty  to  comply  with  the   laws  and  regulations  of  your 
country,   and  procure  either  licence  or  publication   (we  recommend  the 
latter)   previously  to  marriage:   a  neglect  of  this  must   introduce  a 
confusion  into  both  church  and  state.  We  also  think  it  your  duty,  as 
good  citizens,   to  make  application  to  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  to 
celebrate  the  rites,   when  they  can  be  obtained.     We  take  the  liberty 
to  say  this,   because  it   is  well  known,   that  the  perquisites  of 
marriage  are  no  adequate  compensation  for  the   labour  attending  it.  We 
are  very  far  from  saying  that  marriage  may  not  be  celebrated  with 
authenticity  by  a  magistrate.     We  also  say  that  the  time  has  bee, 
before  a  ministry  was  settled  amongst  us,  when  marriage  by  the 
magistrate  was  unavoidable  and  necessary;   and  we  believe  that  there 
may  now  be  many  places  in  our  bounds,  where  marriage  by  the  magistrate 
may  still  be  rendered  necessary,   by  want  of  c 1 ergymen ; but  in  other 
cases  and  among  all  civilized,   and  even  barbarous  nations,  marriage, 
though  originating  from  civil  usage  and  custom,   and  by  those  who 
administered  in  holy  things,   authorized  and  called  by  the  civil  usages 
and  laws,   for  that  purpose.     The  reasons  are  obvious.  Marriage  is  a 
solemn  transaction  -  one  of  the  most  solemn  in  life.  The  celebration 
should  not.   therefore,   be  made  a  frolic  or  farce,   but  attended  with 
solemn  prayer  to  God,   and  a  serious  advice  to  the  the  parties.  By 
whom  shall  this  be  done  ?  By  men  unaccustomed  to  public  prayer  and 
exhortation,   or  by  those  whose  very  office  calls  them  to  these 
exercises  in  public  ?     Surely  no  man  will  hesitate  for  the  proper 
answer . 

Neither  the  Westminster  assembly,   nor  the  Synod  of  New  York  and 
Philadelphia  have  given  us  a  form,   and  it  is  not  easy  for  every 
magistrate  to  turn  the  directory  into  a  form.     The  more  sensible 
magistrate  will  not  presume  to  extemporize,   but  will  either  select 
that  part  from  the  comjnon  prayer  book,  which  may  be  applicable,  (and 
even  this  selection  is  not  very  easy)   or  hurry  along  with  the  bare 
ceremony,  without  either  prayer  or  exhortation,   and  without  that 
decency  and  dignity  that  becomes  the  institution.     The  more 
injudicious  have  often  brought  contempt  on  both  marriage  and 
magistracy,   by  their  attempts  to  give  an  exhortation  and  prayer.  Upon 
the  whole,   a  most  solem.n  institution  of  Heaven  is  often  turned  into  a 
ridicule,   and  the  giddy  youth  who  attend  are  more  entertained  by  the 
manner  of  the  marriage  than  by  anything  else  exhibited  on  the 
occasion.      It  is  justice  to  say,    that  there  are  some  magistrates  who 
celebrate  the  rites  with  becoming  dignity.:   but  heir  number  is  small, 
and  the  common  practice  must  have  a  silent  sapping  influence  on  the 
sacredness  of  marriage,   and  the  peace  and  good  order  of  families  and 
nat  ion . 

For  the  sake  of  the  magistrates  who  may  still  be  under  the 
necessity  of  performing  the  ceremony,  we  have  turned  the  whole 
directory,   as  given  by  the  late  synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
into  a  form,    in  the  note  below  the  use  of  which  we  beg  leave  to 
recommend,  where  a  clergyman  cannot  be  procured  to  officiate. 

While  we  are  speaking  thus  plainly  and  honestly  to  others,  we 
pray  God,    that  we  be  not  unmindful   of  our  own  duty,    as  pastors, 
husbands,    fathers,  masters,   neighbors  and  citizens.     There  is  no  duty 
we  have  recommended  to  you, to  the  performance  of  which  we  are  not 
bound  in  a  most  eminent  degree. 


-19- 


Let  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  ot  all  denominations  feed  the 
flock  ot  Christ,   of  which  God  hath  made  them  the  overseers.     Let  them 
study  to  be  workmen  who  need  not  be  ashamed  rightly  dividing  the  word 
of  truth:    let  them  be  examples  to  their  flocks  in  word,    in  charity,  in 
conversation,    in  faith,    in  purity:   and  not  think  it  hard  to  be 
servants  to  their  people  for  Jesus'   sake:    let  them  take  heed  to 
themselves,   and  to  their  doctrine,   and  continue  in  the  work;    for  in  so 
doing  God  hath  promised  that  he  will  both  save  themselves,   and  them 
that  hear  them.     And,  while  they  press  others  to  travel   the  way  to 
Zion,    let  their  conduct   loudly  speak,    f o 1 1 ow  me   !     Let  them  of  all 
denominations  cling  together  like  a  band  of  brothers,   to  promote  the 
same  glorious  and  common  cause,   and  testify  to  the  world  that  Christ 
is  not  divided.     Animated  with  your  master's  promise  -  "Lo  I  am  with 
you  to  the  end  of  the  world."     Offer  your  services  cheerfully  as 
faithful  soldiers  in  the  great  campaign,   under  the  banner  of  the 
captain  of  your  salvation;   quit  yourselves   like  men;   be  determined  m 
the  conflict,   and  fight  the  battles  of  the  God  of  armies.     A  crown  is 
the  prize:   a  seat  with  Jesus  on  the  throne;   be  faithful  unto  death, 
"they  that  are  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament, 
and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness , as  the  stars  forever  and 
ever;,  and  though  Israel  be  not  granted,  yet   in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord 
you  shall  be  glorious,   and  when  the  chief  shepherd  shall  appear,  you 
shall  receive  a  crown  which  fadeth  not  away  1 " 

In  one  word,    let  ministers  and  people  so  conduct,    that,  when  we 
shall  be  called  to  stand  before  the  judgement  seat  of  Christ,  we  to 
give  an  account  of  our  stewardship,   and  you  an  account  ot  the 
improvement  of  your  privileges,  we  may  have  the  heart  felt  pleasure  to 
say,   and  you  the  joy  to  hear  us  pronouncing  "  here,   are  we.   Lord,  and 
the  children  thou  hast  given  us.   of  all  the  number,   through  grace,  we 
have   lost  none . " 

To  conclude,   we  wish  the  following  short  sentence  to  be  printed 
in  capitals,   and  mav  God  by  his  Spirit   imprint  it  on  every  heart  who 
may  read  it  here  or"  elsewhere  -  WITHOUT  HOLINESS  NO  MAN  SHALL  SEE  THE 
LORD. 

That  God  who  has  so  constituted  human  nature  as  to  connect  vital 
breath  with  animal    life,  hath  made  hoi iness  and  happi ness  as 
inseparable  -  hence  they  who  would  be  happy ,   must  be  ho ly . 

We  would  wish  to  add  one  sentence  to  an  ungodly  world,   that  lieth 
in  sin.     You  who  hear,   and  obey  not  the  gospel,  will  be  of  all  men  the 
most  miserable;  your  guilt  will  be  great,   and  awful  will  be  your 
destruction,    if  you  repent  not.     To  break  the  law,   and  reject  the 
gospel,   to  step  over  the  cross,    to  trample  on  the  body  of  Christ,  to 
force  a  passage  through  the  broad  ocean  of  his  blood,   to  do  despite 
the  spirit  of  grace,   and  silence  the  loud  cries  of  conscience     -  these 
are  exploits  of  wickedness  that  will  meet  with  exemplary  vengeance. 
But  IS  there  no  timely  remedy?   is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ?  Is  there 
no  physician  there  ?  Yes,   blessed  be  God,   there  is.     Let  the  wicked 
man  forsake  his  way.   and  the  unrighteous  man  his  thoughts,   and  let  him 
return  unto  the  lord,   and  he  will  have  mercy  upon,   and  to  our  God. 
and  he  will  abundantly  pardon. 

We  will  grant  that  most  exalted  station  does  not  exempt  us 
those  duties  we  owe  God;   or  that  any  is  so  remote  and  obscure  as  not 


-20- 


I 


to  fall  under  his  cognizance:   and  that  they  who  command  the  greatest 
degree  ot  influence  over  their  fellow  creatures,   are  under  trie 
g r e a t e 5 1  o b 1 i g a 1 1 o n s  t o  p r omo t e  the  cause  of  religion  and  virtue,   an d 
stetTi  the  torrent  of  vice:   seeing  to  vyhofu  much  is  yiven,  of  tricin 
much  will  be  required:   and  the  servant  who  knows  his  master's  will 
and  does  it  not,   shall   be  beaten  with  many  stripes. 

They  must  be  blind  indeed  who  cannot  discern  that  the  present 
is  a  time  of  deafness,   degeneracy  and  backsliding  in  religion,  that 
iniquity  abounds;   and  the  love  of  many  waxeth  cold.     The  prople  of 
God  may  say  with  propriety  and  lamentation,   oh,  my  leaness   !   oh,  my 
leaness   !   and  the  professors  of  Christianity  wear  too  plainly  the 
complexion  of  the  men  of  this  world.     Profane  swearing,  uncleanness, 
drunkenness,   the  breach  of  the  holy  sabbath,   horse-racing,  gaming, 
night  frolicking,   and  revelling,   are  become  predominant  and   (what  is, 
truly  to  the  dishonour  of  religion)   have  been  done  by  many  who  call 
themselves  the  professors  of  Christianity;  who  have  opened  their 
mouths  to  the  Lord,   and  have  yet  gone  back  and  have  thus  crucified  the 
son  of  God  afresh  and  have  put  him  to  open  shame.     Deism,   universal  ism 
and  many  such  pernicious  plants  have  taken  root  among  us,   and  are 
spreading  in  our  land,   daily  sending  forth  the  baleful   influence,  by 
which  many  have  been  drawn  from  the  truth  and  simplicity  of  the 
gospe 1 . 

[The  remaining  pages  are  missing  evidenced  by  a  handwritten  note  J 


(Typed  from  a  copy  of  the  original  obtained  from  the  Wilson  Library, 
University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill.   NC  by  David  J.  Caliri) 


